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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






2. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






3. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






4. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






5. To shift to another key.






6. A group singing in unison.






7. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






8. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






9. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






10. The major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key.For example: A minor shares the same note as C major.






11. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






12. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






13. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






14. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






15. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






16. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






17. To shift to another key.






18. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






19. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






20. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






21. A separate section of a larger composition.






22. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






23. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






24. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






25. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






26. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






27. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






28. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






29. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






30. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






31. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






32. A symbol indicating to play loud.






33. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






34. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






35. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






36. A reprise.






37. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






38. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






39. The first violin in an orchestra.






40. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






41. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






42. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






43. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






44. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






45. The distance in pitch between two notes.






46. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






47. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






48. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.






49. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






50. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.